A man has been airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with “serious life threatening injuries” after his car collided with a lorry northbound on the A12 near Yoxford at around 1.15pm.

The lorry was left overturned in a field and sand and shingle spilt from the lorry has covered the carriageway, an ambulance spokesman said.

Police, firefighters, paramedics and the air ambulance have all been called to the scene.

Officers closed the A12 along a five miles stretch starting from Benhall. The crash also caused delays southbound.

Previous indications suggested the road would remain closed until at least 7pm, however police confirmed it had reopened shortly after 5.30pm.

A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said earlier today: “There will be inevitable delays with heavy traffic in the area for the Latitude festival and motorists are being advised to avoid the area where possible.”

She added: “Diversions have been put in place and it is expected that the road will be closed for some time while the matter is dealt with, recovery of the vehicles takes place and a collision investigation gets under way.

“Motorists are being advised to avoid the area if at all possible as they are likely to experience considerable delays.”

It is thought the crash took place between the A1120 High Street junction and the B1121 Main Road junction on the A12.

The man injured in the collision was treated at the scene for “serious injuries” and later flown to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. The lorry driver was uninjured.

Diversions were put in place. The A12 northbound had a diversion off at Saxmundham along the B1119 through Framlingham onto the B1120 round onto the A1120 and back onto the A12.

The A12 southbound was diverted from Yoxford on the B1122 through Middleton to Leiston on the B1119 through Saxmundham and Benhall on the B1121 and back onto the A12.

Witnesses to the crash are urged to call police on 101 quoting CAD 229 of 17/7/14.